Tigers triumph over ex-coach

LODI - Tokay earned its first nonleague victory of the season, as it defeated former Tigers' coach Steven Kayson and his Franklin Yellowjackets on Monday at Giannoni Gymnasium.

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By Kevin Niendorf

recordnet.com

By Kevin Niendorf

Posted Dec. 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Kevin Niendorf
Posted Dec. 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

LODI - Tokay earned its first nonleague victory of the season, as it defeated former Tigers' coach Steven Kayson and his Franklin Yellowjackets on Monday at Giannoni Gymnasium.

Tokay beat winless Franklin 52-38, as juniors TJ Gotelli scored 14 points and Nico Brusa had 12 in a game in which the Tigers (1-2) led from start to finish. Senior center Dante Anderson was unstoppable in the paint, as he scored 20 points, and had four blocks and a steal for Franklin (0-4).

Tokay coach Bobby Hernandez said it was nice to see Kayson's return to basketball.

"We have a lot of respect for him around here," Hernandez said. "I knew it wouldn't take long for him to come back."

Kayson said his young squad has had limited time as a team to practice, and it won't get any better soon. Franklin's schedule has forced it to use its nonleague games as practices.

"We have 11 games over the next 13 days," Kayson said. "We'll work through this, but we have a long way to go."

The Tigers raced to a 13-2 lead, but Franklin managed to cut the deficit to 31-23 at halftime. The Yellowjackets fell apart in the third quarter by committing 12 of its 27 turnovers, while scoring one field goal. Tokay's largest lead was 21 points to start the final quarter.

"Everyone as a group came prepared and stayed mentally focused," Hernandez said. "TJ Gotelli played huge. This game is played off momentum, and he brings a lot of it. He's very active on the ball."

Tokay shot 38 percent from the field and made 5 of 17 3-point attempts. The Yellowjackets were 1 of 6 on 3-pointers and shot 35 percent.